Many people carry the idea that Satan is a rather dim-witted creature with horns, a pointed tail, and red suit. The primary element of his job description is to use a pitchfork to stoke the fires of hell and maybe get folks into mischief now and then.

The reality, however, is that Satan is a highly intelligent creature, an angel to be exact, who once resided in heaven as the brightest angel of all. As a result of his pride and attempt to overthrow God’s throne, he was cast out of heaven. Unfortunately, when he left heaven, he took his intelligence with him. Thus, his self-appointed job description is to deceive as many people as he can into believing that God is unjust and to draw us away from the saving power of Jesus.

Satan’s tactics often cause us to feel confused. Confused about ourselves, confused about those around us, and sometimes even confused about God. But did you realize that we have the power to confuse Satan?

I recently heard someone say that when we praise God while we are going through a trial, it confuses Satan. It is very logical when you think about it. After all, it is against our nature to be in a spirit of praise when we are suffering. I mean, who really feels like singing in the middle of a meltdown?! Who feels like jumping for joy when depression has them in bed with the covers pulled up to their eyebrows? Satan is the king of kick-them-when-they-are-down and that is precisely why it confuses him when we break into praise regardless of the pain we’re facing.

Songs and Words of Praise

God inhabits praise. If we call out to God not only for help, but in praise, we will not only receive that help, but we will have Satan scratching his head. When I think of all the confusion I have suffered at the hand of Satan’s delusions and deceptions and lies, it gives me great satisfaction to know that songs and words of praise to God can overpower him.

Try it. It may seem impossible at the moment of trial, but try it anyway. Praise is easy when everything is already worked out. But the praise that is lifted to God’s ear during the trial is the praise that packs the power!

Equip yourself ahead of time. Choose a few songs of praise to put in your mind. Take a stroll through a hymn book to find some. You’ll be surprised how many hymns are written around the theme of trials and temptations and sorrow.

Do a Bible search using the word “praise” and jot down a few favorites that speak to you. There are 800 commands in the Bible to praise. For every request you make of God, include a praise.

Keep a gratitude journal and write down at least one thing you are grateful for during that time.

The Psalmist says:

"Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God" (Psalms 42:5,6).